At 8:05 PM on a Friday or Saturday night at The Bit Theater, the house lights begin to dim.
The audience stirs their drinks, wraps up quiet conversations, and takes a deep breath in anticipation. The buzz is electric—there’s a new Sketchpants show about to begin.
If you’ve been before, you know the format: Snowpants, Sweatpants, and now… Underpants. Each show title is a playful hint, but no one knows what the new name will mean until the show begins.
Will it be weird? Probably. Will it be hilarious? Definitely. Will you ever look at a lemon tart the same way again? Unlikely.
The lights come up. The music hits. The first sketch begins.
And instantly, it feels like you’re at a live taping of Saturday Night Live or Key & Peele. You’re not just watching a comedy show—you’re watching what could be someone’s big beginning. Who knows? Maybe someone from tonight’s cast—Ross Cheairs, Demoriya, or Colette Reckamp—will be the next Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, or Kenan Thompson.
The audience exhales that breath with a laugh.
And the show takes off.
What Is Sketchpants?
Sketchpants is The Bit Theater’s fully original sketch comedy revue. Every few months, we produce a brand-new show, written and performed by local artists.
The shows are fast-paced, fearless, and designed to feel like a mashup of your favorite comedy TV shows—but all live, all local, and all built from scratch.
Each production has its own personality—Snowpants, Sweatpants, and Underpants so far—with names that hint at the tone while keeping you guessing. What stays consistent is the energy: high stakes, big laughs, and sharp performances from a rotating cast of creatives.
From Google Docs to Google Laughs
The process kicks off with a virtual writers’ room, hosted via Google Meet. Writers pitch sketch ideas—half-baked thoughts, wild premises, or one-line jokes that get the whole room laughing. Everyone builds on each other’s ideas, not worrying about who came up with what. It’s not about credit—it’s about comedy.
Once sketches are selected by the head writer and director, writers take time to flesh them out into full drafts. Then the real work begins: editing, rewriting, and rehearsing out loud to hear what works and what needs tweaking.
Jokes on the page are one thing. Jokes in your mouth are another.
That’s how we caught one of our Bit Report jokes that was absolutely un-sayable due to an overload of “S” sounds. We rewrote it the morning of opening night. Sometimes, that’s when the best edits happen.
What Makes a Sketchpants Show?
Each Sketchpants revue features a variety of sketch types:
- Classic Sketches – 4–5 page scenes featuring fish-out-of-water setups, absurd characters, and scenarios taken to extremes
- Blackouts – Two- or three-line sketches built for a quick setup and punch
- Runners – Short sketches that return throughout the show with escalating stakes (one past runner was a parody of a deadly Korean-style game show)
- Musical Sketches – From original compositions to parodies of popular songs, music is part of our storytelling toolkit
- The Bit Report – A satirical take on current events in Aurora and beyond, updated right up until showtime
- Short Films – Each show includes at least one fully produced video sketch. The short film for Underpants is called Timber, and… well, we’ll let you discover it for yourself.
Casting the Chaos
About four to six weeks before showtime, we hold open auditions. We provide sides from previous shows as well as scenes from the upcoming one, depending on what characters we’re casting.
Our casts are wonderfully eclectic. You’ll see:
- Improvisers looking to dive into scripted work
- Stage actors from local plays and musicals
- College students discovering their voice
- Retirees with years of performance under their belt
- First-time actors
- Long-time contributors who keep coming back—and many eventually join the writers’ room too
It’s a welcoming community with room for anyone willing to say “yes, and” to a brand-new adventure.
What’s In Underpants?
Sketchpants Presents: Underpants includes sketches like:
- ⚔️ Short Sword – He’s small. He’s angry. He’s overcompensating.
- 🎤 The Bit Report – Your favorite fake news from Aurora’s most unreliable source.
- 🍷 Wine Tasting Idiot – Notes of chaos, with a finish of regret.
- 🤖 Optimus Prime – He transforms… emotionally.
- 💸 Collections – When the church offering plate hits harder than the sermon.
-
🦖 Jurassic Park – Real dinosaurs on stage.*
* (Not really real dinosaurs.)
Written by:
- ✍️ Amy Philippon
- ✍️ Jeffrey Meurer
- ✍️ Jeremy Kowalski
- ✍️ Jim Heffernan
- ✍️ Patrick Stinson
Performed by:
- ⭐ Colette Reckamp
- ⭐ Demoriya
- ⭐ Eleanor McNear
- ⭐ Emily Thimmes
- ⭐ Joe Kennedy
- ⭐ Kimberly Allen
- ⭐ Marissa Damore
- ⭐ Ross Cheairs
Where to See Sketchpants
All Sketchpants shows are performed at The Bit Theater in Aurora, Illinois. To see what’s coming up or to grab tickets, visit:
👉 https://bit-enterprises-inc.odoo.com/events
You can also learn about classes, improv jams, and more at:
👉 https://www.bitimprov.org
Want to Join the Show?
If you’re a performer, a writer, or just someone with a weird idea that might be funny, we’d love to meet you.
Take a class. Come to a drop-in. Audition. Hang out.
The next Sketchpants show is already in the works—and we’re always looking for the next great idea or performer to help bring it to life.
Because who knows? The sketch you write, perform, or witness today…
might be the one people talk about for years to come.
The Bit Theater – Where Funny Lives. And Wears Pants.
WHAT SKETCH IS COMING UP?